Liquid metering device



May 25, 1943 i A. v. sAMPsEL I 2,319,830

LIQUID METERING DEVI CE May 25, `1943- l A. v. sAMPsEL 2,319,830

LIQUID METERING DEVI CE Filed Aug. V12, 1959 4 sheets-sneeze May 25, 1943. A.,v. sAMPs-El. 2,319,830

LIQUID METERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 25, 1943 LIQUID METERING DEVICE Arthur V. Sampsel, Mendota, Ill., assigner to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Application August 12, 1939, Serial No. 289,864

18 Claims.

My invention relates to liquid metering devices and has to do more particularly with an apparatus for measuring and delivering a constant flow of liquid. My invention is especially designed for delivering liquid. fuel of relatively low .specific gravity, such as kerosene or thelike, to combustion apparatus of any suitable type.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the type referred to which is capable of delivering liquid at a plurality of pre-determined rates of flow in order to satisfy different requirements.

Another obj ect is to provide such a device which will deliver a relatively large quantity of liquidor alternatively, a relatively small quantity. both at.

constant rate of feed, and both being adjustable. The small feed may be adapted to support a pilot flame.

A further object is to. provide a device which will be adapted to maintain a constant but adjustable liquid level in the feed chamber, and will also be provided with safety means for preventing overow.

Still another object is to provide such a device which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to fabricate. certain in operation and which will have certain safety features hereinafter to be described.

Various other objects and advantages will be- I shaft means for dispensing fluid at one rateof flow when the shaft rotates in one direction, with means for dispensing fluid at a different rate of flow when the shaft rotates in the opposite direction. the shaft being actuated by a reversible motor.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating certain preferred embodiments of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the device embodying my invention, with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view` partly in elevation, taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l. l

Fig. `3 is a similar view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view .taken substantially along the line 6 4 of Fig. 2 and showing a liquid metering motor forming an element of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3. l

Fig. 5 is a side elevationalview of said motor, partly in'section. taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. -Y

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the float valve mechanism forming a part of the device shown in Figs. 1-3.

Fig. '1 is an elevational view taken substantially along the line 1 1 of Fig. 6. l

Fig. 8 is a sectional-elevational detail on an enlarged scale of the valve mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through another form v of my invention. certain parts being shown in ele-` vation, the section being taken substantially along the line 9 9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken sub- .discharges into the. tank I 2- through a suitable valve I8, said valve being controlled by means of a float 20. By means of the float controlled valveV the liquid -withinthe tank I2 is maintained at a substantially constant level, the valve I8 being automatically opened by the float when the liquid falls (below said predetermined level and closed when the liquid rises to said level. An overflow tube 22 is provided having its inlet opening above the normal liquid level within'the tank I2, so that, in the event of possible failure of the motor (to be described), or electric current, the tank I2 will not overflow.

Mounted adjacent'the tank I3, as by means of a bracket 23, is a constant speed reversible motor 25 of well-known or other'suitable design, said motor preferably being designed tooperate at a relatively slowspeed so as to avoid the necessity .for reduction gearing. To the shaft of the motor is keyed a spindle 26 mounted in bearings 21 and 21', so that the spindle extends across the tank compartment I2. The spindle 26 has a longitudinal hollow bore 30, said bore being closed at one end (see Fig. 9) and at the other end being open so as to discharge into tank compartment I3. The spindle 26 is perforated at spaced points 1ongitudinally thereof, andtubes 33 are mounted in said perforations, said tubs carrying at their extremities buckets or cups 35. 'I'he tubes 33 and buckets 35 are arranged o n opposite sides of the spindle in order that the latter may be balanced.

Although four buckets are shown in the preferredber ofbucke'ts may he so long ii-'Sthey balanced around the tube so that it'may vcon-A stitute an even load on the motor. l. In any event, Y

-`it is desirable. as shown, that the' buckets and tubes 331 be not disposed directly opposite each other, so that liquid may not flow from one bucket into another. Furthermore. itis Y desirable, as

nj'ie'desued to change the quantity or liquid which is being fed from the .compartment i2. Thus. where the devlce'is being employed for heating Y purposes, a thermostat T (Fig. 3), arranged, for

shown best in Fig. 9, that the tubes 33 extend well into the bore 3|- of the spindle in order that back flow of liquid from the bore to the cups may be prevented.

Inspection of Fig. will show that the cups or buckets 35 preferably have a beveled edge 31 s0 inclined that the depth of each cup-decreasesA from front to rear thereof, considering the outerV end of the bucket as the front. By this means i and by maintaining ajconstant level in the -tank i2 so as substantially to cover the buckets when having a cut away portion 43 adjacent the end "25 thereof on a side opposite the open ends of the buckets 35, so as to provide a spoon or dlpper capable of picking up a relatively small quantity example, in the room to be heated, may, by suitableV electrical connection Awhich will be obvious to those skilled in the art. control a switch S which will reverse the motor 25. When this the spoonv 4I will pick up a relatively small quantity of liquid as comparedfwith the buckets 35. which reduced ilow of liquid will be fed in the same manner through the bore 30, etc. It will be apparent that when the buckets are feeding liq uid, the spoon will be inoperative, and vice versa. When the device is employed for a burner, a feed by the spoon 40 of a few drops on each rotationof the spindle will ordinarily be suillcient to maintain a pilot flame.- The spindle may con lveniently rotate at about one R.Y P. M. The device may also be employed for intermittent absorption refrigerators, in which case the large feed may be employed `during the heating period of the cycle and the reduced ieed to maintain Ya pilot during the refrigeration period. Varof liquid when the tube 40 ls submerged in the tank compartment l2 and when the spindle 26 is so rotated that the openportion 43 of spoon 45 is leading. The tube 40 and its open face are of such dimensions that they will be fully submerged in the normal liquid level of said tank compartment I2 when the tube 40 is in its lowermost position; so that a constant load of liquid will be picked up thereby and discharged into the bore 30. The tube and its opening 43 are so def signed in my preferred embodiment that sumcient liquid will be fed to maintain the pilot iiame o t a pot type burner while the size of and number of -buckets 35 are so adjusted that the aggregateA feed thereof will be capable oi maintaining the maximum fiamefor such a burner.,` Of'course.

a plurality oi' spoons 40 may be employed if desired.

which case'it may be desired to modify the quan' tity of liquid fed by the apparatus.

` The spindle 26 has a reduced portion 45 which ious other applications of` my invention will doubtless suggest themselves to those'skilled in the art..

Referring now to Figs'. l to 8, inclusive, showing another embodiment of my invention, the

numeral 5h represents a casing which may be provided with a cover 5i. Within the casing is a vertical wall 5I defining with the side wall of casing 50, an enclosure 54 within the main enclosure' 55 ofthe casing 50.

posed within the housing 59. so that the speed of rotation finally delivered by the motor through a shaft 80 will be as desired. Said shaft is supported by a bracket B2 which may serve likewise to support the motor 58 as shown best in Fig '3. The bracket 62 may be secured as by screws, to

' bosses 53 formed on an L-shaped wall 34 which defines an inclosure E.

AIn the base of the casing 50 is a threaded tting 35 which serves as an inlet for the liquid which is to be metered, said inlet communicating j. with a tubular iiitering chamber 66 (Fig. 2). A tubular screen 61 is disposed within the filtering extends well into the tank compartment I3, theopen end thereof being preferably ared or bell# shaped so as to inhibit any tendency of the liquid to flow back along the spindle from the discharge opening thereof, as by capillarity.

An outlet tube 41 is provided for discharging liquid from the tank compartment I3 to a burner or to any other 'apparatus or receptacle to which it is desired to convey a' constant flow of liquid.`

It will be notedfrom Fig. 9 that a vertical goose y neck is preferably provided in the discharge conduit I41 so that a constant head of liquid may be maintainedat Iall times. This is especially desirable ln connection with fuel burners, so that a steady flame may be maintained.

It is believed that the oeration of the device Y will be apparent -fromI the above description.

chamber t6, being retained at one end in a seat formed in the-fitting 65 and at the other end in a seatiormed in a screw plug SS. It will be obvious that the plug 69 may be removed so that the screen 61 may be withdrawn for cleaning o! whatever debris may beflltered out of the liquid.

Adjacent the end of the filtering chamber 65 4opposite the inlet there extends upwardly a nipber 55, this passage being formed in an enlarged buckets 35 will pick up a constant quantityof liquid which will be discharged through the bore 3l of the spindle into compartment i3, whence it will now at a constant rate to the place desired'. The

portion 80 of the valve assembly. The kportion l0 has a lower flat face which, with a' gasket 80', seats against nipple 15. A reduced portion.

:Il extends upwardly from the portion 8l, the

entire unit serving to jo na-l a valve rod 83. said rod terminating in a beveled lower end 84 which motor will be reversed Vby suitable means when .is adapted to seat against the valve Aseat 18.

`Seated under the nut 31 is a yoke 3l which may be retained by a washer 50 or the like (Fig. 8), and a coil spring is disposed around the valve stem 53 between the washer 5l and another washer 93.

A U-shaped bracket 35 straddles the valve assembly, this bracket having laterally extending feet 3i, 95 which may be secured' as by Screws or .the like to bosses 91, 31 attached to the door of the enclosure 55. Pivotally secured to' -the bracket 35, as at |53, is a lever ,lll carrying a float |52. The lever IUI has a pair of arms |33.

|33, extending beyond the pivot |33 which are adapted to bear downwardly on the two sides of yoke 39.

This .float |52 serves to control the inilow of liquid into the main chamber 55. It will be obvious that the valve stem 53 is normally elevated by means of the Spring 9|, so that `the valve is open, permitting liquidto ow through the filter chamber 55 into the main reservoir 55 but that. as the liquid rises, the float |32 will cause the arm |03 to depress the valve stem against the action of the spring until the flow of liquid into reservoir 55 is entirely cut off. As liquid is withdrawn from reservoir55, the float |02 will drop, permitting the spring`8| to open the valve, again permitting the liquid to ow into reservoir 55.

Also pivoted to the bracket 55 as at |05 is an arm |55 carrying a float |58. The arm |55 carries a dog |31 which is engageable with a lateral extension' I I0 on a lever ||2 pivoted to the bracket 55 as at ||3 and carrying at one end thereof a weight ||5. At the other end of the weighted lever ||2y is a manipulating member ||3 which extends through the casing 5|I as seen best in Fig. 1.

'Ihe function of the parts just described is to prevent overflow oi the reservoir 55. The float |53 and the weight ||5 and their associated parts are normally arranged as seen in Fig. 6, with the weight 4retained in elevated position by dog |01.

Should the liquid level rise in reservoir 55 beyond a predetermined level of safety, the float |08, in rising to that' level, will carry with it -the dog |01, whicliwill become disengaged from the projetion allowing the weight l5 to drop by gravity, carrying the lever 2 to a point where it will bear against the upper'end ofthe valve rod, depressing it against the resistance of the spring 5| so that the valve will be closed. It will be apparent, of course. that, after such shutoif has occurred, the Darts may be restored to normal position by raising the weight 5, which may bev accomplished by depressing the manipu lating member Ill.y and permitting the float Ill to drop by withdrawal of liquid to the normal level.

Rotatably carried by the shaft 5l within the reservoir 55 is a metering rotor |23, a thrust bearing |2| preferably being provided. This rotor comprises a pair of spaced discs |23 and |24.

scoops formed by spaced peripheral members |25 and' inwardly extending members |21. The members |21 extend between the peripheral members |25 and the hub of the rotor. The spaces |29 between the peripheral members de- |33. Although the rotor may be formed in various ways, I have found it convenient to form the the hub portion |32 in parts |25, |21 integral with the disc |25 and secure this integral part to the disc |23 as by means of screws |3I.

The disc |23 may have formed integrally with it a hub portion |32 having channels |33 therein communicating with the scoops |33. 'I'he hub portion |32 is provided with a flange |34 and a similar flange |35 is also provided integrally with spaced relation to the flange |34. Although I have shown a discharge channel y|33 for each scoop |33, there may, of course, be one or more common channels.

Also formed on the rotor |25 is a radially extending tube |31 having an opening'l33 formed on one side thereof. A screw Ill is threaded into said tube |31 and is adapted to close the opening |33 to varying degrees.

An outlet |53 is provided below the chamber E whereby the metered liquid may be drawn oil to any desired point.

It is believed that the operation of the device shown in Figs. 18, inclusive. and just described.

will be readily understood. Liquid is fed in through 'the -lter chamber -55 and thence through the valve assembly into reservoir 55. the liquid level in said reservoir being automatically maintained by means of the floats, as described above. From the chamber 55 liquid will be delivered by the rotor at a constant rate into the chamber E. When the rotor is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2). a large feed of liquid will be maintained. The amount of liquid fed may, of course, be varied by adjustment of the liquid level within the reservoir 55, and this may be controlled by adjustment of the valve stern 83, which is threaded for that purpose. When the rotor is revolved in a clockwise direction by reversal of the motor, the scoops |35 will then be inoperative and the tubular feed member |31, which is inoperative when the rotor is revolving counterclockwise, will then operate to provide a relativeLv small feed. The small feed, of course, may be varied by adjustment of the screw |40. In either event, whether the feed is large or small, it will be at a constant rate.

`It will be understood that the reversal of the state (not shown) which thermostat may be disposed wherever desired, depending upon the use to which my apparatus is to be applied. Thus. for example, when my invention is to be applied to heating or air conditioning apparatus, the thermostat will be disposed in a room which is to be heated or air conditioned. In other cases, where my invention is to be applied to refrigerating apparatus, the thermostatic control may be disposed in the refrigerator or in certain working parts thereof or in the room, where an ambien-t control is to be provided.' Other applications of my invention will doubtless suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

In certain cases I have found that the relatively small feed member shown in the embodiments y described above will deliver material at a rate in Arranged between. the two discs is a plurality of fine opening passages for the buckets or scoops excess of certain requirements. This may be true where a pilot flame of a burner consumes a very small quantity of fuel. Fig. 11 shows an arrangement whereby material may be delivered by the small feed element at a very low rate. This is accomplished by the introduction Yof gears or other speed reducing elements.

In Fig. 1l, the rotor |25 is substantially as shown in Figs. 1-5 except that it does not cai-'ry in the appended claims,

figures. On the shaft 60 which, as in the other embodiment. is provided wlthone or more longitudinal passage ways |33, there is a spur gear |50 which meshes with a similar gear |52 car- 5 ried by a shaft |55 arranged parallel to the shaft Sii. The shaft |55 is also provided with a longitudinal passage way |56 and communicating with this passage is a pickup or feed member |31 which may be similar to Figs, 3-5. Instead of gearing, I may use sprockets and chain, pulleys and belting, or. equivalent` motion transmission mea l It will be obvious from Fig. 1i, since the shaft |55 will be caused to rotate at a much lower speed l5 than the shaft 60, that the relatively small pickup will have a greatly reduced capacity for delivering material as compared with the device of Figs. 3-5. VA's in the other embodiments, the small pickup of Fig.- 11 will be operative only 20 when the large pickup is inoperative, and vice versa. In other words, when the shaft 60 is ro tating clockwise so as 'to be operative,the shaft |55 will be rotating counterclockwisev so as to be inoperative.

In a preferred embodiment, the shaft may rotate at a constant speed of about R. P. M. while the shaft |55 is geared to rotate at approximately 3 R. P. M. These figures are merely iliustrative, of course, as the speed will depend on 30 the size of the parts. Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned except to the extent indicated which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim: v

1; A liquid metering device comprising a hollow shaft, means for rotating said shaft in opposite directions, and feed members mounted on said shaft and communicating with the bore` thereof, certain of said feed members being of different capacities and having their intake openings disposed in opposite directions whereby. when said shaft is rotated in Opposite directions, different quantities of material will be fed.

2. A liquid metering device comprising a receptacle, a. hollow shaft, and a feed member carried by said shaft and adapted to pick up liquid from said receptacle and discharge it into the y .bore of said shaft, said feed member comprising a hollow tube having its end closed by a member threaded therein and having an opening on the side thereof in the direction of normal operative rotation of said feed member, said opening being regulable by adjustment of said threaded .member, and reversible means for rotating said shaft at a constant speed.

Zi. In combination with a device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotating means is a reversibie constant speed electrical motor, means for reversing said motor, and heat responsive means for actuating said-reversing means.

` 4; A 'liquid metering rotor comprising a rotatable shaft, a relatively large container .carried by said shaft and having an' opening toward one di- 70 rection of rotation of said shaft, anda relativelyI small container carried by said shaft and having an opening-.toward the opposite direction of rotation of said shaft, both of said containers discharging throught a` passage in said shaft. and

the feed member shown. in `10v means for adjusting the size .of the opening in said smaller container.

5. A liquid metering device comprising a re- Aceptacle, a plurality of hollow shafts, scoops carried b said shafts and communicating therewith. where y material picked up by said scoops will be discharged through said shafts. the scoops of the respective shafts being of different capacities, said shafts being interconnected for rotation in opposite directions. the scoops of each shaft being operative only when rotated in one direction,

and the scoops of one shaft being inoperativel when those of the other shaft are operative.

6. A liquid metering device comprising a 'receptaclefa plurality of hollow shafts, scoops carried by said shafts and communicating therewith, whereby material picked up by said scoops will be discharged through said shafts, the material fed through the respective shafts owing at different rates, said shafts being arranged for rotation in the same direction, but the scoops on one shaft bleing operative only when rotated in one direction while those of the other shaft are operative only when rotated in the other direction, means for rotating the shafts at different relative speeds, and means for reversing direction of rotation of said shafts.

'7. A liquid metering device comprisinga receptacle, a plurality of hollow shafts, scoops carried by said shafts and communicating therewith, whereby material picked up by said scoops will be discharged through said shafts, the material fed through the respective shafts flowing at different rates, said shafts being geared for rotation in the same direction but at different relative speeds, the scoops on one shaft being operative only when rotated in one direction while those of the other shaft are operative only when rotated in the other direction, and reversible means for rotating said shafts. l

8. A liquid metering device comprising a receptacle, a hollow shaft, a feed member carried by said shaft and adapted to pick up liquid from said receptacle and discharge it into the bore of said shaft, said feed member comprising a hollow tube having an opening on one side in a direction of rotation of said feed member, means for adjustably restricting said opening, and reversible means for rotating said shaft at a constant speed.

9. A liquid meteringdevice comprising a receptacle. a plurality of hollow shafts, reversible constant speed means for driving one of said shafts, means interconnecting said last mentioned shaft with the other shaft whereby said other shaft will be driven in the opposite direction and at a substantially different speed, scoops carried by said shafts and communicating therewith whereby material picked up by said scoops will be discharged through said shafts, the scoops of each shaft being operative only when rotated in one direction, and the scoops of one shaft bein`g 'inoperative when those of the other shaft are operative.-

10. A liquid metering rotor comprising a hub having an axial passage therethrough and a plurality of buckets carried on said hub and communicating with said passage. said buckets comprlsing a pair of spaced plates forming the side walls of said buckets, a plurality of spaced peripheral members, the spaces therebetween form- A ing openings for said buckets, a plurality'. of-

members extending between said plates and from said peripheral members to said hub. said last mentioned members being non-radial and so walls of said shaped that'the-buckets will be operative( to scoop up material only when rotated in. one direction and inoperative when rotated in the opposite direction, and a container of relatively small capacity also carried on said hub and adapted to pick up material only when said buckets are inoperative.

11. A liquid metering rotor comprising a hub 'having an axial passage therethrough anda plurality of buckets carried on said hub and communicating with said passage, said buckets comprising a pair of spaced plates forming the side s buckets, a plurality of spaced peripheral members, the spaces therebetween forming openings for said buckets, a plurality of members extending between said plates and from said peripheral members to said hub, said last mentioned members being Vnon-radial and so shaped that the buckets will be operative to scoop up material only when rotated in one di rection and inoperative when rotated in the opposite direction. a container of relatively small capacity also carried on said hub and adapted to pick up material only when said buckets are inoperative, and means for adjusting the capacity of said smaller container.

12. A liquid metering device, comprising a receptacle, a hollow shaft, a feed rotor communicating with and carried by said shaft, said rotor being designed to feed liquid at a given ratey in one direction of rotation and at a different rate in the reverse direction, and means 'for rotating said shaft in both directions at substantially constant speed. Y

13. A liquid metering device, comprising a receptacle, a hollow shaft, a feed rotor communicating with and carried by said shaft, said rotor being designed to feed liquid at a given rate in one direction of rotation and at a different rate in the reverse direction, means for rotating said shaft in both directions at substantially constant speed, and means for maintaining a substantially constant liquid level within said receptacle.

'14. A liquid metering device, comprising a receptacle, a hollow shaft, a feed rotor communicating with and carried by said shaft, said rotor being designed to feed liquid at a given rate in one direction of rotation and at a different rate rotating said shaft at substantially .constant speed, means for maintaining a substantially constant liquid level within said receptacle. means for reversing the rotating means, and heat responsive means for actuating said reversing means.

l5. A liquid metering device comprising a receptacle, a hollow shaft, a feed member carried by said shaft and communicating therewith, said feed member comprising a hollow tube having an opening with an adjustable closure for varying the feed, and means for rotating saidshaft at constant speed.

16. A liquid metering ,device comprising a hollow shaft, a scoop carried by said shaft and communicating therewith, a synchronous motor opin the reverse direction, reversible means for eratively connected to said shaft. whereby the latter may be rotated at a substantially fixed speed at all times, a receptacle wherein said scoop rotates, means for introducing liquid into said receptacle, and means for maintaining a substantially constant liquid level vwithin said receptacle comprising a oat valve controlling the inflow of liquid and means for preventing overflow beyond said constant level, all of which elements in combination providing a substan tially uniform rate of liquid feed from said receptacle. f

17. A liquid metering device comprising a hollow shaft, means for rotating said shaft in opposite directions, and a chambered rotor carried by said shaft, the chambers having inlets through which liquid is rotation, the chambers bore of the shaft, all being so constructed and arranged that when said shaft is rotated in opposite directions different quantities of material will be fed.

18. A liquid metering device comprising a hollow shaft. a synchronous electric Vmotor for ro' tating said shaft in opposite directions, and a chambered rotor carried by said shaft, the chambers having inlets through which liquid is picked up in either direction of rotation, the chambers communicating with the bore of the shaft, all being so constructed and arranged that when said shaft is rotated in opposite directions different quantities of material will be fed.

ARTHUR V. SAMPSEL.

picked up in either direction of communicating with the 

